Elizabeth M. Thomas Associate

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Liz focuses her practice on commercial litigation. She represents clients in the energy industry in commercial, royalty, class action and negligence matters in state and federal courts, particularly in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Liz has experience in all phases of litigation at the trial and appellate levels, including drafting and arguing several motions to dismiss, defending and taking several depositions, and drafting and defending motions for summary judgment.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Elizabeth clerked for Judge D. Michael Fisher of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Prior to her circuit court clerkship, Elizabeth clerked for Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia.

While in law school, Elizabeth interned for Judge Irene M. Keeley of the United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, served as Senior Notes Editor for the West Virginia Law Review, and represented clients seeking writs of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court in the Supreme Court Law Clinic.

Experience

Energy Litigation

  • Pursued breach of contract claim for energy industry client in Virginia circuit court.  Defeated demurrer and won over $6 million judgment on summary judgment.
  • Represented utility companies on issues related to force majeure, impossibility, and frustration of purpose in construction disputes.
  • Representation of a natural gas distribution company in connection to house explosions in Pennsylvania.
  • Represented a utility company in connection with negotiation of surface agreements for construction of solar facility in Indiana.
  • Represented natural gas company in dispute related to joint operating agreements and application to both operator and non-operator proposals, drilling plans, and profit sharing.
  • Representation of a midstream energy marketing company in West Virginia circuit court related to large multi-plaintiff litigation. Maintained contracts in place for company despite claims of fraud and misrepresentation in negotiation of contracts.
  • Represented an energy company in Texas federal court related to contractual disputes related to Winter Storm Uri.
  • Representation of an energy organization in relation to coastal land loss litigation filed in numerous jurisdictions against numerous energy defendants.
  • Pursued claims for individual energy industry client related to fiduciary duties, demands for books and records, and breaches of corporation contract.

Other Litigation

  • Represented corporation in dispute over improper piping material and installation of piping in domestic water system of hotel.
  • Represented several bank clients in class actions related to various discrimination, consumer protection, consumer fraud, and Ponzi scheme related claims.